Volkswagen cars' high pollution rates
Detection |
| The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), in a 2013-2014 research project in collaboration with West Virginia university, showed that certain Volkswagen cars were emitting much more pollution than they were supposed to, prompting an EPA investigation in 2014.
VW claimed to have fixed the issue, but real-world tests could not match up to lab tests.
This prompted regulators to investigate the discrepancy further.
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Volkswagen cheating since 2008
18 Sep 2015 |
| The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused Volkswagen of cheating emission tests via the use of a "defeat device" in certain car models.
The device includes an intricate code which turns on the pollution-control system of a car when it is being tested for emissions, while the car spews higher levels of pollutants otherwise.
The company was charged under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
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VW CEO Martin Winterkorn resigns
23 Sep 2015 |
| The Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn resigned on 23 September 2015.
Winterkorn said in a statement, "As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities...even though I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part."
After the scandal was uncovered, Volkswagen admitted that 11 million cars were affected worldwide.
VW also said that it had put aside $7.3 billion for reparations.
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Volkswagen appoints new CEO
25 Sep 2015 |
| Porsche chief, Matthias Muller was appointed as the new CEO of Volkswagen on 25 September 2015, after Winterkorn's resignation.
Muller said that he would leave "no stone unturned" in the investigation of the scandal, and that his primary aim was to restore the reputation of the Volkswagen Group which is the number one global carmaker in sales terms, with 80 million customers worldwide.
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US DoJ files $20 billion lawsuit against VW
5 Jan 2016 |
| The United States Department of Justice has filed a law suit against Volkswagen, alleging that 600,000 diesel vehicles across all it's brands had illegal devices that allowed them to fake emission tests.
DoJ officials stated that Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act by selling illegally modified cars.
The DoJ will seek $37,500 per car and $2750 per device, totaling over $20 billion in fines.
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VW to pay $15 billion to car owners
28 Jun 2016 |
| German automaker Volkswagen has reportedly reached a $15 billion agreement with car owners after admitting to emissions fixing.
The offer involves VW repairing or buying back affected cars and paying owners compensation.
However, car owners have the option of declining VW's offer and suing the company separately.
The deal also includes $2.7 billion to offset carbon emissions and $2 billion in green energy research.
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Volkswagen: $4.3 billion settlement in US emissions case
11 Jan 2017 |
| Volkswagen confirmed that the company came to a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities over the emissions scandal; the company said it would plead guilty to criminal misconduct.
The company added that an independent monitor would oversee operations for the next three years.
The plea and the settlement are part of a deal with the Justice Department, which a judge would need to approve.
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Volkswagen claim they are fixing 20k UK cars a week
22 Feb 2017 |
| Volkswagen MD said the company has fixed 470,000 cars (out of 1.2 million) affected by the diesel emissions scandal.
"At the current rate we are applying these measures to 20,000 cars a week," VW MD Paul Willis told parliament's transport committee.
The company may hire more people for the fixing operation but won't offer any monetary compensation to affected VW owners in UK.
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Emissions Case: Volkswagen pleads guilty in US court
12 Mar 2017 |
| Automaker Volkswagen AG pleaded guilty to fraud, obstruction of justice and falsifying statements over the emission scandal. The automaker had reached a $4.3 billion settlement with the US Justice Department over the matter.
It was the first time the company pleaded guilty in a court anywhere in the world.
The sentencing hearing will take place on 21 April.
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Audi, Volkswagen raided over emissions scam
16 Mar 2017 |
| German regulators have raided sites owned by Audi and Volkswagen in connection with the US emission scandal.
Prosecutors raided Audi's unit in Bavaria and 8 other locations including Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg. In a statement Audi stated that it was cooperating with the authorities.
The authorities clarified that they sought to identify individuals involved in installing emission cheating devices at these factories.
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